Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Our New Logo

Of the many advantages associated with attending a major conference such as the IAJGS Jewish Genealogy Conference, is the ability to interact on a first hand basis with the people who have helped make JewishGen into what it is today.

Specifically, I have also been able to hear people’s reactions to the new JewishGen logo, and I am happy to report that the reviews have been mostly positive, exciting and upbeat.

If you analyze the logo, you will notice a “Magen David” surrounding the middle of the logo. The logo also contains six leaves which reference the leaves of a genealogy tree branch. The point of each of the six leaves represents the 6 million Jews who were murdered during the holocaust. The star in the middle extends outwards representing Jewish renewal throughout the world. Finally, the color scheme of blue and green was chosen to convey the global nature of JewishGen’s active network of volunteers who make JewishGen possible to begin with.

What do you think?

Express your thoughts in the comment section below and then submit your vote on the top right hand part of this page.

i don't mind the logo. i love the tree but it has had its life and i think it's okay to move forward. i am shocked that people are more focused on something cosmetic like the logo than on the new licensing agreement and the details and impact it will have on the future of jewishgen.

I think the new logo is too abstract. It says nothing about genealogy and is barely recognizable as a Magen David. The tree logo conveyed warmth and genealogy, plus it was colorful and attractive to the eye. Just my two kopecks...

The logo looks like a bogus Jewish star. Was the designer's intent to "bury" the fact that this is a Jewish site? It certaining looks that way! If Museum's wants JewishGen to disappear, this is the way to go. I vote against.

I do not think that the money used for this new logo design was well spent. I have been donating religiously to JewishGen now for 16 years. It's not a lot in the grand scheme of things, but $500/yr + is a lot more than most people. I will have to reevaluate my committment to JewishGen based on the responses I have heard from management regarding this new logo. I heard: Here's the new logo. We discussed it with "stakeholders" . If you want to voice your opinion, go to the blog and vote. But we are not going to change it. Sorry, I'm voting with my money.

Folks should note the similarity to Ancestry's logo, and also Rootsweb's logo (Rootsweb was "amalgamated" with Ancestry a while ago). Same leaf shape, same mid-line in the leaf, same color. This begs questions about the full intent of the announced JewishGen-Ancestry.com partnership. I much prefer the original colorful tree design.

If that is supposed to be a Magen David, then it was designed by someone who does not want to be identified as Jewish. The logo should more clearly be Jewish.

As a very active Jewishgen volunteer, I too, am suspicious of Jewishgen's agreement with Ancestry. Why align with a commercial site only available to those who pay large fees? It makes me suspect that, eventually, Jewishgen will exploit the work of all of its volunteers and go commercial.

Like many other conference attendees, I feel that the new logo resembles a ceiling fan more than it does a magen david and that its reference to Jewish genealogy is at best highly abstract.

We were told at Wednesday evening's JewishGen session that WE -- JewishGen's volunteers, donors, and participants -- "are JewishGen." Not long after, comments from the audience about OUR symbol were rudely dismissed by the head of the Museum of Jewish Heritage. Not a great fund-raising strategy, Dr. Marwell.

I hate to think how much JewishGen (or Ancestry?) paid a commercial artist or public relations firm for this design. I find it cold, unattractive, and meaningless. Please reconsider.

JewishGen is about genealogy - families - and our origins. The logo does not emit any of those sentiments. It would be nice to find out who were on the committee that designed this that no longer represents this family of Jewish Genealogy. I hope this is not cast in stone because if it is count me out of any support.

A logo is a facade. What's important is what stands behind it. And yet...

For many of us, the old logo "feels" like home. JG is the place we visit late at night after work, the place that has housed and aroused deep emotions. In comparison, the new logo looks cold and commercial. Sort of like finding a store where your childhood home used to stand...

It's a move backwards (or an attempt to blend in with Ancestry.com). Either way, it is too obtuse in its symbolism. The old one was better. Is it another example of Jewishgen's arbitrary management style that essentially all the comments I read here are negative, the voting on it is negative, - but JewishGen reports "I am happy to report that the reviews have been mostly positive, exciting and upbeat". JewishGen is again listening to itself instead of its membership.Not happy about the Ancestry deal either or the way it was negotiated.

I have been a member and supporter of Jewishgen since the first days of dial-up to Susan's BBS. I think the thinly veiled symbolism of the logo does not represent the goals and mission of Jewishgen. Most of the ancestors that Jewishgen subscribers are searching for lived many generations before the Holocaust. Having the logo focus on the holocaust and the six-million is appropriate for Yad-Vashem, but not for Jewishgen. It is a misrepresentation of who we are and what we do.

I suspect that since Jewishgen is always short of funds, the efforts for the design of this logo was initiated by Ancestry, and represents their understanding of our mission.

I don't like the new logo, as many of others have said I believe the star is barely noticable and it does look more like a propeller than the mogin dovid. This was a very poor use of donated money rather than what we all want is access to more new documents and data to further the research of our JEWISH families. BRING BACK THE OLD LOGO!!!!

I looked at this logo and it reminded me of my brother's boy scout badge - from pre-1945.

I googled "scout logo" and hey presto - up comes a very similar logo - perhaps we are planning a secret merger with the "Boy Scouts Association" next? Remember you read it *here* first!

BTW - as we have so many active, caring and concerned members, it would have been nice/courteous/democratic to give us advance warning of these possible changes - which are now de-facto. Or perhaps - we, the plebs and backbone of Jewishgen do not count?

I have always liked the tree logo. As others have said, the new logo is too abstract, doesn't convey anything about family (trees) or Jewish genealogy. The leaves don't look like leaves and the Magen David is sideways. If you want to update away from the purple background, that's okay. Perhaps make it a nice, rich blue background. Just don't uproot our tree!!!

I am afraid that the new attempt to change the JewishGen "branding" has ignored the original genealogy intent. The result is a non-distinctive magen david which while Jewish does not truly offer the viewer a positive brand recognition for JewishGen. The symbolism intended is not really apparent and that means that the brand will not be remembered.

The suggested logo is so esoteric that it will be meaningless to most people without an accompanying interpretation. The leaves are barely recognizable as leaves and the association to a family tree is far-fetched. The Magen David is recognizable world wide, even by our detractors but the six "leaves" of the logo are not a Magen David. I also agree that the coincidence of the number six in the number of "leaves" in the logo and the number of points in a Magen David and the number of millions of Jews killed in the Holocaust is pushing a point too far.

New logo is lousy. LOOKS like a design by a 1940's "Artistic director's" interpretation of 'something a customer WANTS to be able to recognize." THE logo of the TREE, could be used. AMALGAMATED it looks like I am 'trying but can't quite make it. WHere is the 'leaf?' The star" I see a circle in the center of the supposedly 6 leaves/ IF the is is the determined logo, why not USE LEAVES of trees that are around the world...Some from each Continent? Have thestems form the roots and spread them out in a fan shape. Ie- Maple leaves and Oak Trees to represent uSA and Canada, U.K. Palm/fronds, date trees, from the Middle EastEucalyptus from Australia? USE ideas this looks 'expensive' logoDOES NOT DO THE TRICK to brting greater recognition of Jewish Gen.E.G. Feitler in Central NY State

The new design is too abstract, the previous tree design got at the heart of genealogy, which should be the purpose. Neither the Holocaust nor the wealth of volunteers address themes that get at the heart of genealogy, which is to learn about your family, and its family branches. Since a good many of our ancestors went from country to country in steamships--- should a steamship be displayed in a logo design?

A logo is by its own nature an "icon"; if you have to explain it, it hasn't been effective. And if you explain it and it still doesn't make sense, it is NOT a successful design. Change is hard and the previous logo was evocative for the many, many users of Jewish-gen. This logo does not resonate in the same emotional way as did its predecessor. To me, it does not even "look Jewish." The impression I got from the new look was that it was a pleasant design that was specifically designed to eliminate the ethnic content. But I must say it is NOT the logo that really matters as much as the profound impact that the organization has wrought on the Jewish community looking for its roots. I applaud the new agreement and the enhancements that it what it will bring to working Jewish genealogists.

Is this the first step to allowing Ancestry.com to charge for the records that hundreds of thousands of volunteers donated their time for? Not to mention the millions of dollars that were donated to produce these records. Shame on you, JewishGen. Forget the horrible logo.

This logo is a disaster. It could be on a cereal box.It says nothing and represents nothing. The explanation of the logo at the begining of this blog reminds me of a Rorschach test; one can see in it whatever one likes.That is not the purpose of of a logo.A logo should send a distinct message which this one does not. Bring back the tree.

Bring back the old tree logo or use a clearer Magen David. The new logo is not really immediately recognizable as Jewish. It also does not convey the idea of genealogy. It seems like a lame attempt to use the Ancestry leaf motif.

Our existing logo could have easily been accommodated into the Ancestry framework. Check out Ancestry of Japan for an example. http://www.jiapu.cn/. Their logo is a tree. Jewishgen could do the same thing with a different tree -- like the one we have now.

This is horrible. I tried to vote, but the system wouldn't let me. Anything that requires such contorted explanations to say what the thing is, and even after all that is unclear, really should be junked.

I was never a fan of the old logo or "sea of purple" idea. Looked like Halloween to me rather than something Jewish and professional!

And I like the new JewishGen lettering/coloring a lot, but I don't think the star icon matchs the professionalism of the lettering. I'm sorry JewishGen paid money for something that doesn't hold a candle to the Museum or Ancestry's very elegant logos. JewishGen deserves a sleek logo!

My first impresion was that it looks like an alien flower on Star Trek that spit sleeping gas at Captain Kirk's friends. Then someone mentioned virtually the same thing at the conference! ... so it I like the idea of a new logo, but think this one is awkward. I'm glad that it will be shrunken down to pinpoint size when I have to use it as a button to click for town information... then maybe it won't be so bad, because we won't be able to see it so clearly!

It looks like a logo for a Washington, DC cherry blossom festival but with really ugly colors. The tree was bright and perky and attractive to the eye. I was proud of it representing who we are. This logo is an embarassment! Too bad no one will take the voting and comments serious enough to recognize that the majority don't want the new logo and will it change back (sigh...).

I just realized that what we have here is the propeller on the Titanic. As I recall, it was the last thing those who survived saw. Actually, if you attach the Ancestry logo below it, you have a potted plant.

I was very disturbed at Dr. Marwell's defensive comments at the conference. It appears to me that this was an attempt to disconnect JewishGen from its original roots and put the stamp of the Museum on it, dismissing those who had the original vision. There is nothing in the new logo or the new look that connects us to the previous 20 years of JewishGen. I hope this decision will be reconsidered in light of the overwhelming vote and comments in this moderated blog against it.

I note one comment "I do not think that the money used for this new logo design was well spent."Did somebody actually pay for this? It says nothing, it does nothing, and it leaves me longing for the tree that made sense.

Could you publicize the voting opportunity so more people could see the logo and react to it? Many conference goers aren't home yet and still others don't have computers but might find one to access this site. Several from our JGS had no idea about the change. If you really want a widespread and honest poll then publicize it and leave it up longer.

The new logo design is very unattractive, lacking gracefulness and dignity. In addition,it does not convey any meaningful Jewish and/or genealogical symbol or message that can be readily understood.The original one was fine.

The new logo with its muted colors is soul-less and static, not signifying renewal. The tremendous loss of the holocaust may have sparked some people's interest in genealogy but it does not define us all. Genealogy is for the living and the tree is a far better and more meaningful logo than the new @#$%^ design.

I have never been able to find my great grandmother on any ship records and my theory for years has been that she came by space ship from Russia to the US. I am happy that others like me have seen the Star Trek connection. I would like to see the logo on a pin and then I can use it as a communicator badge. (I can easily see Captain Pickard wearing it). Perhaps with the badge, I will finally be able to find out what space ship she arrived on...

I agree with the negative comments, & really wonder if anyone in charge is reading them - if any commercial project got similar reviews there would be people looking for new jobs. The design element that really bothers me is the empty space in the middle, symbolizing?

I was not a great fan of the tree, and having a new logo to recognize new directions we are going in is really a fine idea.

But I have to agree with most of the comments here. The logo itself is not clearly symbolic of any of the things it is supposed to symbolize; Holocaust issues are one of our interests, but are not the driving force behind Jewish genealogy; the type font is weak; and the colours are insipid.

I don't understand why this has become such a major controversy. JewishGen has been providing a tremendous service to the Jewish community for years. If they feel that a new logo will help with their fundraising efforts, why is that a problem? We should be much more concerned about the new Ancestry deal than the new logo.

As an Israeli, the new logo looks to me like a military button. Nothing reminds me of genealogy. I have nothing against the colors, and understand the need for renewal, but this logo just doesn't do it.Thanks for the opportunity to comment.

The new logo is chusseri. The tree is a living symbol and emotes strong feelings. The new logo is bland and devoid of life, please don't accept it. The Jewish family tree is more than 5000 years old, let's not change it now!

Alice was sitting by the rabbit hole - above shone a strange-looking star - she hummed "Twinkle twinkle little star, how I wonder what you are?"

Out of the corner of her eye she could just see the Red Queen holding a placard saying "Data Acquisition". Suddenly the Queen bent forward and grasped the small white rabbit - but he managed to escape. In his right hand he held a scroll labelled "Family Tree and Burrow News" - 30 years of dedicated Bunnikinski family work". He panted "Oh my ears and whiskers, Oh my ears and whiskers - she nearly got me, she nearly got me."

Alice saw him rush down the rabbit hole - was this a bad dream or was it really happening?

This logo does NOT look anything like a Jewish star. It reminds me of hamentashen, or of a propeller as other people have said. Furthermore, I find the green a disgusting shade which does not complement the blue. As a child of Holocaust survivors, I agree that the Holocaust is a large part of my life. However, when I am doing genealogy, I am trying to go beyond the Holocaust to find my family roots and the branches of my family tree. This is the essence of Jewish genealogy and should be represented by some form of tree integrated with a magen david. The previous logo is a much more meaningful representation of what Jewish genealogy stands for.

"Specifically, I have also been able to hear people’s reactions to the new JewishGen logo, and I am happy to report that the reviews have been mostly positive, exciting and upbeat."

People often say things to be polite and to avoid unpleasant controversy in a public situation. Has this not occurred to the writer? And now we asked to vote *after* the event - how odd and cynical. Are you trying to fool us?

Dump the new logo; it’s a failure. Others have said it better, but it fails to reflect when first seen—which should be the criterion—or even after careful review after having been told what it is supposed to represent, any of the underlying attributes of JewishGen. A logo isn’t supposed to be a puzzle, but that’s what’s been achieved. Go back to the tree until you can come up with something that blatantly says Jewish Genealogy at the grade-school level.

The tree was a beautiful logo which seemed to represent the interest in family history going back over many generations. I wonder if the new logo is a sign that the orientation of the organization is changing with its new alliances, both the museum in New York and Ancestry. I loved the old logo and am very disappointed in the new one.

This is a terrible, dull design and as many have noted - jewishgen is not just Holocaust. The new logo is completely meaningless when one glances at it and the story behind it... more like a flower design that someone liked and then created a story around. We are about tradition and serious study, not glitz. And why did I have to find out about this from Gary Mokotoff's newsletter, not from JGen? As a long time donor and supporter, I find that offensive.

Here is the scorecard. As of 8/25 Noon, there have been 67 comments; 3- For,64- Against the new logo. That's 95.5% negative and 4.5% positive opinion regarding the new logo.The Jewish Gen Blog has a different count. They tell us that out of 368 votes,46(11%) say the new logo is "Great", 76(20%) say "OK", and 264(68%) say it is "Horrible". Question - Who were the 368 voter?. Does that count include the people who came up with this design?. I think the count based on "Comments" is more accurate and reflects the opinion of our members.

If JewishGen is not changing as an organization, in response to its affiliation with Ancestry.com, then why change the logo? JG needs to maintain its identity and a logo IS it's identity. That is the primary purpose of a logo. If JewishGen, as an organization IS changing due to this affiliation, then we have more to worry about than the logo.

I agree with all the negative comments, and so did the people I spoke with at the Conference. I don't know where JewishGen received so many positive comments. I don't believe it. This logo is too abstract and doesn't represent anything Jewish. I tried to see a Jewish star, but I couldn't. If you have to try to figure out what the logo says, it's not working. At least the tree was immediately recognizable as relating to genealogy. Isn't that what we're about? CHANGE THE LOGO!

I had to choose, Ancestry reply or logo reply. I got my answer from Gary M in the email newsletter today...don't ask, don't ask...Who should be asking if they are mormons before jumping into partnership with them? How ignorant after all the bluster about the baptisms. The Logo is just the tip of the iceberg. I appreciate JG's volunteers and my heart bleeds for what the JG bosses have done to descecrate this organization.

The two postings at 1:39PM and 2:33PM on 8/25 appear to be a blatant attempt by JewGen to stuff the ballot box to improve the positive count after reading the statistics. Won't work.The logo is still no good.

Poor image - it is flat, not dynamic, no growth, no relationship to genealogy - looks commercial - three petals and leaves of a trillium plant or poison ivy? You erred...Coke knew when they made a mistake and went back to Coke Classic - it's not too late to admit a mistake!I am very concerned about what this symbolism means - what else are we losing if we are losing our identity? our name? Will we soon have to pay to log on to Jewish Gen? What about JOWBR with the data our volunteers collected? It belongs to us! What other changes are coming down that we are unaware of as of yet?

An orthodox friend, and very active Jewish genner, had trouble immediately he logged onto the blog. His computer went haywire and he could not vote. However he feels so strongly about this - he wished to write this: My vote is no to Xmas ornaments or to any gaudy thing that looks like a pinwheel without the stick. The shape of a Mogan David is holy and that way for a reason. Calling this a Mogan David violates the third commandment regarding swearing or taking oaths vainly, or falsely.

This is interpreted by the sages as useless oaths. The most common examples are that wood is wood, which is a vain oath, or wood is gold, which is a false oath. For a Jewish Organization to claim that object is a Mogan David, which it is not, would be a false oath.

I am open to a new logo, but this one clearly doesn't work. It says nothing meaningful about a really amazing organization. I am puzzled by the process of voting after this has been announced. Wouldn't it have made more sense to arrive at several designs and then ask for a vote? Given the fact that 68% of those responding to the blog are clearly unimpressed, I think you need to reassess. Asking for reactions if you are unwilling to respond to an pretty uniform response seems highly disingenuous.

1) I am removing my names from the Family Tree. I haven't gotten any "hits" in the last 7 years, so it's not a big deal. This way, Ancestry can not, under any circumstances, get my personal info into their clutches.

2) No more money or volunteer efforts for JG. If they can NOT listen to the majority of their users (ie logo), then I don't feel like I am getting any "value" for my money.

The new "management" needs to take an effective listening or Dale Carnegie course to learn how to listen and how to get people to like them. I certainly don't get the same feeling now like I've had in the past. They certainly weren't listening to us during the conference.

I hate the new logo! From a distance at the IAJGS meeting, it looks more like a military insignia than anything relating to Jewish genealogy. It looks like a generic, corporate logo, not something that reflects the heart of what dedicated Jewishgen volunteers, like me, have done to create genealogy databases to benefit the Jewishgen family. The attitude expressed at the meeting, that the logo stays no matter who dislikes it, reflects a dictatorship mentality. I had thought better of Jewishgen...

I think the logo is terrible.I also think that it is terrible that we have to waste our energy and time in discussing a new logo when the old one was fine.Please bring back the old logo and stop this foolishness.Anonymous (only because I don't want to waste my time arguing with someone who (incredibly!) might like the new logo)

As many others, I also associate the new logo with Startrek, the military, and the boy scouts. Nothing about it renders a Jewish theme.I do not see the leaves or the Jewish star. It also reminds me of those pinwheels we used to blow in the wind.

At the conference meeting where this new logo was introduced, the feeling was that it doesn’t really matter what we, the JewishGen members, think about it. It was presented as being a done deal, like it or not.

The administrators have an opportunity now to show us that we are being listened to. I hope that, after hearing our reactions at the conference and reading our responses here, you will reconsider and decide to continue working on a logo until one is created that appeals to the majority. This would go a long way in building a positive relationship of trust and respect.

I think the new logo is terrible. Why did the old one have to be replaced? Bring back the old one.Anonymous (only because I do not want to waste my time arguing with some one who (incredibly!) likes the new one.

I think the new logo is terrible. Why did the old one have to be replaced? Bring back the old one.Anonymous (only because I do not want to waste my time arguing with some one who (incredibly!) likes the new one

The new logo doesn't seem to resonate with people, and I have to agree. One can stretch the explanation of the symbolism one might be able to see in the new logo, but without the narration it is a stretch. What was the purpose of designing a new logo? What were the objectives? Maybe I missed it but I don't see that explanation anywhere. I can understand a progression of the tree design but not a break to something completely different and therefore without meaning to the community that JewishGen is comprised of.

The design is terrible -- only thing I could figure by looking at it was that it was supposed to be some contemporary rendering of a Mogen Dovid because of the 6 points. Unfortunately, it misses by a million miles. The color scheme is, frankly, ugly. Over-all, it is a bland and unexciting visual. While the original JewishGen logo wasn't that great, either, it was head and shoulders above this one. Ugh!

The tree symbolized the purpose of the site. The propellers are pretty but tell one nothing of the site. It's too late to change; I know lots of money, time and market research went into the new logo. But why not just have the Ancestry Green Leaf and be done with it?

Until I read the description of the new logo, I could not notice the Magen David or other symbolism at all. I agree with previous postings that our hobby is not just about the Holocaust but about family trees and roots. I do not see a problem with a new logo, but this is a very poor design. Why not somehow update the old one? Modernize the old one instead of throwing it out for this new and obscure one. At this posting, the vote is 69% "It's Horrible". Please recognize your mistake!

This whole exercize of voting and commenting appears to be a cruel hoax. It gives the illusion that what the majority of commentors say matters when clearly no one cares. Has anything been said by Ancestry leadership? Where is David Marwell's reaction? Ben Zoma said, "Who is wise? One who learns from everyone." 'Nuff said!

Even though most of us are Jewish and it is a Jewish site, this logo does not represent the purpose of JewishGen, which is GENEALOGY and building our family TREES. I am a transcriber, a donor of Holocaust material and contribute to JewishGen-erosity every year. I can undestand if JewishGen wants to "modernize" the logo, but keep the tree, branches and leaves!

The reason that JewishGen's databases and websites have grown steadily and continuously over the past years is because we volunteers and contributors feel strongly that this is "our community."

This is the point that was made at the JewishGen presentation at the conference when it was ssid that "you are JewishGen".

Comments and concerns about the logo are indeed about the logo, but they also reflect a far deeper concern that because of its arrangements with Ancestry.com, JewishGen will no longer be "our community."

JewishGen management has a unique opportunity to listen to these concerns about the logo and show all of JewishGen's volunteers and contributors that JewishGen is still our community and that we are valued.

Folks, don't be fooled,there's a numbers gain underway. JewGen claims that out of 530 votes,68% say it's horrible. Out of 107 comments listed here, the negative percentage is above 90%. The sad part is - NO ONE IS LISTENING.

We have been given the logo to discuss as a red herring. The real issue is the process that was followed before the merger. There was no discussion among the membership, no opportunity for input among the societies and No vote at the conference.

Each time I look at the new logo I first see a blue propeller superimposed on top of a green triangular-shaped object. It's only when I tell myself it's supposed to be a magen david that my mind actually sees the star. I don't think it's particularly well designed. This being said, I don't think the old tree logo was anything special, so it would be nice to have something new and improved -- only this new stylized star isn't it. Please go back to the drawing board.

Stop insulting the logo! It changed. Finished, end of discussion! and who cares lets see any of you make a different logo that is good.....uh hu thought so! so stop saying mean things calm down breath in breath out. By the way I like it!

First reactions are crucial and, unfortunately, despite the PR, the initial reaction by the majority of IAJGS attendees to the logo was negative, hands down. One could try to parse the positive aspects..cool colors, pleasant flower design, but if you need to explain the symbolism the graphic designer has not done his or her job well at all. A modernization or re-colorization of the original design would have been wiser. It wasn't broke, so why fix it? This logo is more suitable for a clean-tech start up or macrobiotic cafe than a genealogical research organization. And what's with the "hidden" Mogen David you can only see with a magnifying glass? (Well...I guess that part fits with genealogists...) On the other hand...I don't side with the conspiracy theorists that this is a plot for a new world order of the genealogical websites to unify as one behind similar, inscrutable symbols. Just a misguided attempt by a graphic design firm who didn't "get" their audience, and wasn't especially inventive. The colors are somber, the logo boring, unimaginitive, and rudimentary. Next time propose several, hold a contest, and let your consitutents express their opinions before the decision, not after. We are all spritual "stockholders" in JewishGen, after all, and our voices should be heard.

From a marketing point of view, If JewishGen wants to maintain branding, it would do well to stick to its old image (the one everyone prefers) and just disseminate it more frequently. Creating a new image will be disruptive and not in the best interests of the organization.

The August 26 11;28 posting is the hight of Chutzpa, obviously by someone in management directly involved in the new logo. Unfortunately it says it all. It's a done deal. They are not interested in our views, and why they asked for comments is beyond me. The posting says it all - suck up to it and shut up.

Thanks for the above comment - I heartily agree but I took another look at the 11.28 entry "Stop insulting the logo! It changed. Finished, end of discussion! and who cares lets see any of you make a different logo that is good.....uh hu thought so! so stop saying mean things calm down breath in breath out. By the way I like it!"

But could this really be from the "management" hiding under a cloak of anonymity and illiteracy? I had assumed they were better educated than that. This sounds like another illiterate hacker brought in to swell the "YES" ranks.

This is so, so sad - were it not for all my close friends in my SIG, I would resign from Jewishgen forthwith. Do others feel the same? No data will ever be submitted to the organisation till all is in the open and totally transparent. As for cash donations - that area is very murky too. Into whose pockets will that cash go? Will more ridiculous, expensive innovations be foist upon us?

The Logo is symbolic - I never thought much about it before, but now I realise how very important it was. We all belonged to a family - now it is one big mess - like a stranded whale pod.

You wrote:"This is so, so sad - were it not for all my close friends in my SIG, I would resign from Jewishgen forthwith. Do others feel the same?"

YES!!!!

JewishGen has turned away from a being a heimish community and instead, is a commodity - to be used as seen fit by the deepest pockets.

I will NOT be submitting any new data, any new names or volunteering for projects for that reason alone. Oh, and don't bother sending me out any donation requests... the current JG is not getting another penny from me.

It's a big mishegoss, the way this has occurred. And it could have been prevented.

I am very disappointed with Jewishgen. The release of Jewish records to Ancestry and the new logo is ridiculous! Jewishgen needs to keep its independence. The new Jewishgen logo appears Christian. Jewishgen has always been my favorite site for research for 10+ years, but this has left a so called bad taste. Please rethink your decisions. I will be reconsidering any future donations to Jewishgen.

I have the feeling this was forced upon them by Ancestry. It looks way too much like Ancestry's hand, plus the explanation sounds as though a non-Jew wrote it. Ancestry seems to feel that Jewish History is ONLY about the Holocaust and that the other 5750 years of Jewish History don't count.

On another thread, JG Admin writes:"2) We are open to all feedback, both positive and negative. We appreciate the volunteers who help us provide this important service to the Jewish genealogical community and we will do everything possible to be as transparent and open as possible."^^^Obviously, he hasn't gotten to THIS thread yet!

If the boychick continues to talk PR dreck (such as the above paragraph) ... he won't be taken seriously pretty soon.

I posted my objection to the new logo and my concerns about the direction in which JG is headed here here and on another blog earlier; but I feel I must add the following.

I am one of those who was raised without knowledge of her Jewish ancestry. 13 years ago, I decided enough was enough: I decided to look for the Jewish family I never got to know as a child. Thanks to JewishGen, and volunteer 'Genners, I learned, I grew, I discovered the person I am comfortable being and the heritage that is rightfully mine ... and I found a huge wonderful extended family. During that process, I also discovered that in spite of a lack of prior knowledge, I too had contributions to make to the JewishGen research community.

The current lack of disclosure we are witnessing from the JewishGen administration concerning the future directions of JewishGen is very troubling. I feel, as do others, that there has been a betrayal of a trust ... perhaps unwritten, but a trust nonetheless ... that bound us together with common purpose. It is unsettling, and disturbing. I can understand the reasons of those who are pulling back their support; but I do NOT understand why there has been neither swift nor substantive commentary from either JewishGen or Ancestry to address the disquiet in the community.

The longer the administrative silence continues, the more likely it is that the JewishGen community we knew and loved is seeing its final days. What a waste.

Because people are not familiar with this blog they may not yet have read UPDATE: CLICK HERE to read a letter from Dr. David Marwell about the new logo. And to confuse matters even more there is now a correspondence column under Dr Marwell's reply as well as this ongoing one!

This "Update" link is to be found at the top of this page on the right.

I have alerted many active genners to this blog - most had no idea about it. The trouble is that we all have a lot to do and to spread important news like this in a blog guarantees that most genners will not read it.

We have a special SIG for Annual Conference News - so why not one for important administrative announcements so everyone can subscribe? We should not have to root around like truffle hounds. Why this blog for such important matters?

Also I would like to comment on Dr Marwell's statement on the poll held on this site which showed an overwhelming *NO* to the new logo. This is what we can read if we click on the update: 12 people were used to select the new logo - but two were against it - however Dr Marwell tells us:

"Although the poll on the Blog might suggest that we were wrong, I want to caution that it was most unscientific, and we regret the manner in which it was introduced."

I am a scientist but not a statistician and even I can tell you that 10 who liked it, is of less significance scientifically than 300 plus who did not.

The sample chosen by Dr Marwell is too small to be representative and they may all have tried to fall in-line to show consensus.

I try to avoid "politics" at all costs and wish to get on with genealogy but when I feel people are being treated unfairly I resent it.

In my posting above, I mentioned Dr Marwell's letter - and this where three new comments/postings have now appeared. As I said, this is utterly confusing.

If the postings dry up it is not because of lack of fervour but because of lack of information, lack of time and last but not least, a feeling of hopelessness.

Short regular postings should be sent to each SIG and the Discussion Group, in the interests of democracy, to alert *everyone* to these off-topic discussions. The topic subjects could be listed.

I am sure hardly any of the thousands of genners know. Furthermore, we are all very busy genealogists, *not* bloggers.

When the signature choice altered, I was utterly baffled. I plumped for Google and up came my name in truncated form, as I had a google account. I have no idea what the others are: 1. LiveJournal 2. Wordpress 3. TypePad 4. AIM and finally 5. OpenID which I presume means "full name".

Could the administrator please put out a clear explanation asap so that everyone knows [from gt-grandmothers and gt-grandfathers down to rocket scientists, all over the world] what all this is about? Are we identifiable when we write in? Some genners who work as moderators etc, may be frightened to express their opinions freely.

I [grandmother - biotechnologist consultant] am good at writing clearly so if he/she needs any help, I am here to help. Then at least I will know if my google mail address has showed up with this posting!